Grand jury hears case of woman charged after child's assault

BESSEMER, Ala. – An Alabama grand jury will hear evidence in the case of a woman who police have said was working as a prostitute while her 5-year-old daughter was allegedly sexually assaulted in another room.

Attorney William Bell Jr. says his client was charged with child abuse though the case was sent to a grand Thursday to decide whether she'd be indicted. The Associated Press isn't identifying the woman to avoid identifying her daughter.

Pleasant Grove police said the woman told investigators she was with a man Dec. 8 when she heard her daughter crying. The woman went to check on the girl and told investigators her daughter said 51-year-old Orlando Howard had sexually assaulted her.

Howard was charged with two counts of sodomy. Attorney Thomas Thrash says Howard denies the allegations.